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There are two basic horse colors: 1. Black 2. Red (called Chestnut or Sorrel)
Black + the Agouti modifying gene= Bay
The agouti (bay gene) is a modifier that only affects black horses and restricts the black to the points (legs, mane, tail).
When you add 1 dilute to the basic colors: 1. Smoky black 2. Palomino 3. Buckskin (Bay + 1 dilute)
When you add 2 dilutes (double dilute) to the basic colors: (see *note* at bottom) 1. Smoky cream 2. Cremello 3. Perlino (Bay + 2 dilutes)
When you add dun factor to the basic colors (one parent must be a dun/red dun/grulla): 1. Grulla (black/silver/gray coloring with dorsal, leg barring, stripes) 2. Red dun (pink/orange coloring with dorsal, leg barring, stripes) 3. Dun (regular tan coloring with dorsal, leg barring, stripes)
When you add 1 dilute + dun factor (one parent must be a dun/red dun/grulla): 1. Dunskin (all of the same characteristics of a dun, only lighter. Sometimes the dilute will go undetected unless tested or the animal produces or sires a dilute or double dilute) 2. Dunalino (all of the same characteristics of a red dun, only lighter & usually has a light or white mane and tail)) 3. Smoky dun (sometimes the dilute will go undetected unless tested or until the animal produces or sires a dilute or double dilute)
When you add 2 dilutes (double dilute) + dun factor (one parent must be a dun/red dun/grulla): 1. Perlinoskin (will have most of the same characteristics of a dun, but very light) 2. Duncream (will have most of the same characteristics of a red dun, but very light) 3. Smoky cream dun (will have most of the same characteristics of a grulla, but very light)
Now there are 3 more genes that have been detected that will also augment the color in various ways that are still being studied: 1. The champagne gene 2. The pearl gene 3. The brindle gene
*Note*: double dilute horses can only sire or produce single dilute colored horses when bred to a black, red, or bay colored horse (see above). Depending on the parentage, the outcome could have dun factor (see adding 1 dilute to dun above). When bred to a single dilute colored horse, the double dilute can sire or produce a single dilute (smoky black, palomino, or buckskin), or a double dilute (smoky cream, cremello, or perlino).
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